Police suspicious after SUV plunge

Spokane emergency crews responded Monday night to what they were told was an SUV that slid off Aubrey L. White Parkway and plunged 70 yards down an embankment close to the Spokane River.

Now they suspect that nobody was in the 2003 Lexus, and have charged the driver with making false statements, Officer Teresa Fuller said.

Aleksandr Peganov, 32, told emergency crews he swerved to miss a deer and went over the embankment.

The Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team responded and rescued Peganov from near the SUV, which stopped less than 2 feet from the river, Fuller said.

Peganov’s lack of injuries made crews suspicious, especially since the driver’s side of the Lexus was caved in, and the seat belt hadn’t been in use, Fuller said.

He was released and went home while tow truck operators worked two hours to retrieve the crashed SUV.

“Upon further inspection of the car, officers saw that the driver’s side seat belt was locked into the open position at the crash, meaning no one was belted in the driver’s position,” Fuller said.

And the crash caved in a good portion of the SUV where the driver would be seated, she said.

Superintendent to host Web chat

Spokane Public Schools Superintendent Nancy Stowell will host her monthly online chat from noon to 1 p.m. today.

The public is invited to submit questions for the superintendent by visiting the district’s Web site at www.spokaneschools.org and clicking on “Chat with the Superintendent.”

Transcripts from previous chats – held the first Wednesday of each month – are available on the Web site.

Fair offers health screenings

Free cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose checks will be offered to seniors and others this Saturday at the fourth annual “Movin’ and Groovin’ Fair” at the Corbin Senior Activity Center in Spokane.

The fair runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 827 W. Cleveland Ave. and includes information booths, balance testing, vendor raffles and concessions.

The health screenings are underwritten by Numerica Credit Union and will be conducted by Community Health Education and Resources.

Retirement communities, social services agencies, medical providers and financial institutions are among the entities that will host information booths.

The fair raised $7,000 last year and is one of the senior center’s two primary fundraisers, said Christa Richardson, executive director.